Be Thankful! Let Your Life Show Thankfulness!

Last week I wrote about being thankful; I said, "being thankful is more  than just something we think about in November; it should characterize our lives every day!" I also said I was going to share some of the things I'm thankful for, so . . . while I could write all day about this, I'm going to share just a few of the many blessings for which I am thankful . . . 

Be Thankful - It's a Heart Attitude!

Yes, I know Thanksgiving is a couple of weeks away and so of course we tend to think  about being thankful this time of year, but being thankful is more than just something we think about in November; it should characterize our lives every day! In I Thessalonians 5 we read -

Cultivate and Model a Heart of Thankfulness!

Every year in November we talk about and focus on Thanksgiving; for  good reason, but this year make the commitment to modeling and encouraging a heart of thankfulness all year long! Consider the following -

What are You Doing? How Do You Need to Change?

As you read this post, picture the families in your church's Children's Ministry. Think about the children who come to church with their parents - likely most of the children in your church are in this group. Think about children from the neighborhood around your church who come to church on their own - or possibly in your church bus if you have a Bus Ministry. Think about the children who come to church with their grandparents. Most, if not all, of the children in your ministry will fall into one of these three groups.

It is Time for Another Change

  

I have shared with you about studies from the Barna Group. Gen Z - the generation which includes many of the young adults in our church - are turning away from their faith in double the numbers

of previous generations. These children/teens/ young adults have a basic understanding of the Bible - likely from Sunday school - and yet are turning to Atheism. They are listening to people on-line who are angry and bitter, filled with hate for God, and are receiving a warped and utterly wrong view of God. We - parents, grandparents, churches, publishers - did not realize we needed to teach apologetics to the ones we love and now, while they have a basic understanding of the accounts in the Bible, they do not know why they are able to believe God is real and trust Him with confidence.

Don't Let Another 20 Years Go By - Help Parents & Grandparents Now

Nearly twenty years ago a Barna study showed 85 to 96% of parents believed it was their responsibility to hand faith to their children, but beyond taking their children to church, parents did not do anything else at home. The study says; "The survey data indicate parents generally rely upon their church to do all of the religious training their children will receive. Parents are not so much unwilling to provide more substantive training to their children as they are ill-equipped to do such work. According to the research, parents typically have no plan for the spiritual development of their children; do not consider it a priority, have little or no training in how to nurture a child’s faith, have no related standards or goals that they are seeking to satisfy, and experience no accountability for their efforts.

See a Need; Fill a Need - Grandparenting Ministry!

Sunday School began in 1780 as actual school for poor children which used the Bible as a text book. Religious education was a staple for children right up until the 1960's when parents stopped going to church so much themselves. Today most churches have a Children's Ministry because they understand how important it is to reach children for Jesus and help them grow to know and walk with Him. Churches and publishers saw a need, (for Children's Ministry) and filled the need.

Give the Gift of Science Projects, Art Projects, Cooking Activities, and Games with Eyelash Vipers, Pygmy Elephants, Pangolins, & More!

  

Yesterday I wrote about giving a fantastic gift this Christmas to the children you love which will combine science projects, craft projects, cooking activities, and games with learning about amazing animals, quotes from scientists, and handing down confident faith by giving a Life on the Goldilocks Planet book along with the supplies for all the fun - a terrific gift for the entire family! I wrote about the book - Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More!

Give Confident Faith & Family Fun with Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More!

 

Please share this with the parents and grandparents in your ministry - and check out the offer for churches as well! 

I know, we have not yet celebrated Thanksgiving, but have you started thinking about Christmas gifts for the children you love? If so, or even if you have not really made any decisions yet, how would you would like to give a gift which combines science projects, art projects, cooking activities, and games with fun facts, colorful photos about animals - many of which you have never heard of before, and quotes from scientists - this is a gift which will engage the entire family in fun and learning together AND, most importantly, hand down a confident faith! Take a look at the Life on the Goldilocks Planet series of books.

Thankful for Faithful Volunteers

When it comes to Children's Ministry there is no shortage of things you need so you are able to provide ministry to children, but clearly one of the biggest needs is for volunteers. As you focus on being thankful this year, take time to thank God for the volunteers you have . . . even if you need more, be thankful, ever so thankful, for the volunteers you have!